Crop Protection Monthly



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31 July 2010 – Issue 248

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NEW EU PROPOSAL FOR GM CROPS 3

SECOND QUARTER SALES 3

EUROPEAN NEWS AND MARKETS 5

UK FARMERS GIVEN NEW ADVICE TO CONTROL EAR BLIGHT 5

CERTIS LAUNCHES NEW FORMULATION FOR SLUG CONTROL 5

MONSANTO RECEIVES EU APPROVAL FOR CORN COMBINATIONS 5

INNOVATIVE CROP PROTECTION PROJECTS RECEIVE UK FUNDING 6

AMERICAN NEWS AND MARKETS 7

EPA GRANT AERIAL APPROVAL FOR VALENT INSECTICIDE 7

DUPONT GAINS MARKET SHARE IN NORTH AMERICA 7

MONSANTO CLOSE TO COMMERCIALISING DICAMBA TOLERANT SOYBEAN 7

MONSANTO TO INTRODUCE APHID TOLERANT SOYBEANS 8

BASF AND MONSANTO COLLABORATION INCLUDES WHEAT 8

SYNGENTA UNVEILS WATER OPTIMISED CORN HYBRIDS 9

BASF GROWER SURVEY REVEALS KEY CHALLENGES 9

BAYER PROMOTES INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT 10

AMVAC ACQUIRES BAYER’S COTTON DEFOLIANT 10

CANADIAN COMPANY SET UP IN THE US 10

AGRIUM ACQUIRES FARM CENTRES FROM DUPONT 11

NUFARM REACHES AGREEMENT WITH REGULATORS ON AH MARKS 11

INTERNATIONAL SUGAR BEET AND CANE CONFERENCE 12

The future of sugar 12

British Sugar expands 12

Tropical sugar beet 13

Update on Syngenta’s Plene technology 13

CROP PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND UTILITY 14

Crop yield 14

Crop protection and environment 14

Energy crops 15

Climate change 15

OTHER NEWS AND MARKETS 17

SYNGENTA REPORTS ON HALF YEAR SALES 17

SYNGENTA GRANTS LICENCE TO BAYER FOR COTTON TECHNOLOGY 17

JAPANESE APPROVAL FOR BAYER’S NEW RICE FUNGICIDE 17

AUSTRALIAN GROWERS ADVISED HOW TO MANAGE RESISTANT WEEDS 18

NUFARM AND SUMITOMO TARGET GLYPHOSATE RESISTANT WEEDS 18

BOOK DISCOUNTS 18

NEW EU PROPOSAL FOR GM CROPS

In an attempt to break the deadlock on GM crops and unblock the approval system the European Commission has announced new measures that would allow member states, or even regions within countries, to restrict the cultivation of GM crops. This is regardless of whether the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has determined they pose no risk to human health and the environment, or whether they have been approved by the European Commission. The Commission says that, in principle, the new arrangement should make it easier to secure EU-wide approval for crops.

Currently just two genetically modified crops are approved for commercial planting in the EU. MON 810 maize is the only GM food cultivated commercially. A GM potato, BASF’s Amflora, has also been authorised, but is harvested for industrial starch. Sixteen crops are still awaiting final approval.

However, the new proposal has already drawn widespread criticism from both supporters and opponents of GMOs, who have argued that the new system will create legal uncertainty for farmers and agri-businesses. “While this might open new markets for seed producers in pro-GM countries it also poses legal uncertainty for the industry. Telling the individual members to sort out matters by themselves is not going to be a solution,” said Mike Mack, CEO Syngenta.

The proposal would also allow national governments to modify the existing rule allowing products to be labelled as GM-free if they contain no more than 0.9% of GM ingredients. This would lead to a patchwork of rules across the EU, industry experts say, complicating the development of their products.

Some farmers have also criticised the proposal, fearing that it will drive investment in agricultural biotechnology away from Europe and make their industry less competitive. “This decision sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the EU lacks interest in innovation and new technologies for a competitive agriculture industry and that it does not use evidence and science in its decision-making,” UK National Farmers Union’s chief science and regulatory affairs adviser, Helen Ferrier, said in a statement. “The very real danger is that it risks discouraging technology companies investing in Europe.”

Several EU governments have also criticised the proposals with German Chancellor Angela Merkel attacking the plans as a first step towards dismantling the EU’s single market.

The EU currently takes advice from EFSA, an independent body, which conducts a risk assessment of each GM organism. The Council of Ministers then makes a decision on the crop that applies to farmers and agribusinesses throughout Europe. But the council's voting system means that opposition by just a few of the 27 member states can block the introduction of a crop, in which case the European Commission makes a final decision.

Austria, Hungary, France, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg have adopted safeguard measures and prohibited the cultivation of the GM maize MON810 on their territories. In addition, Austria, Luxembourg and Hungary have notified the European Commission of their decision to prohibit the cultivation of Amflora potato and Poland has legislation in place forbidding the marketing of all GM seeds.

The European Parliament and Council of Ministers are expected to discuss the new proposals, with a view to legal implementation, this autumn. 

SECOND QUARTER SALES

The second quarter of 2010 has seen mixed results for the crop protection business with unfavourable weather, inventory destocking and pricing pressure having a significant impact. Business analysts, however, see this as a temporary situation as opposed to a structural long term issue.

BASF report that its second quarter 2010 sales in Agricultural Solutions were up 3% year on year. This was a result of favourable exchange rates and stronger volume sales in South America and Asia. EBIT before special items was €47 million below the previous year’s record high, down 13%. This was

due to lower prices and targeted increases in selling expenses and expenditures for research and development.

Bayer's CropScience division saw revenue increase by a modest 1.7% to €1.88 billion in the second quarter. After adjusting for currency and portfolio effects, sales fell by 5.5%. Sales of conventional crop protection products fell by 1.3% to €1,520 million, hit by bad weather in Europe, and by pressure on prices from generic manufacturers in the US.

Syngenta says it expects its net profit to be down this year due to a late start to the farming season following a harsh winter and higher taxes. Bad weather it says delayed the planting season in the northern hemisphere but demand did pick up in the second quarter, especially in emerging markets, and sales increased by 3% compared to 2009. The group now expects a strong second half to the year with the planting season in the southern hemisphere looking good.

DuPont’s Agriculture & Nutrition business delivered 16% sales growth and 31% higher pre-tax earnings. However, the North American seed business performance underpinned this growth with both price and volume increases, marking another year of solid share gains in both corn and soybeans.

EUROPEAN NEWS AND MARKETS

UK FARMERS GIVEN NEW ADVICE TO CONTROL EAR BLIGHT

BBSRC, the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, has been advising farmers to change fungicide regimes to help prevent losses to the cereal disease, Fusarium ear blight (FEB). FEB has the potential to devastate a crop just weeks before harvest. Scientists at Rothamsted Research, an institute of the BBSRC, discovered substantial symptomless infection in wheat ears, which means that although the plant appears healthy the fungal infection could already be beyond control. They have, therefore, been advising farmers to use fungicides as a preventative measure rather than a curative approach.

 

It is believed that the re-emergence of FEB is driven by changes to climate and agronomic practices. Besides dramatically reducing yield, the grains are also contaminated with fungal toxin. Under EU guidelines one infected ear per square metre would be sufficient for the harvest to be rejected. In 2008, 11.5% of the UK wheat crop was found to be over the EU limit. Attempts made to control the disease by traditional methods such as plant breeding and fungicide treatments have not been fully effective. Disease is assessed by measuring visible symptoms. This could drastically underestimate disease levels and mycotoxin contamination.

CERTIS LAUNCHES NEW FORMULATION FOR SLUG CONTROL

A new high quality, metaldehyde based slug pellet MetaPads has been launched by Certis UK in time for the 2010 autumn season. Offering a low dose, low concentration formulation it allows two applications within the critical autumn use period that has recently been subject to dose rate restrictions. Certis marketing manager Robert Lidstone explains that the new 3% metaldehyde treatment has a recommended label rate of 3kg/ha for normal infestations. “This delivers 90g of metaldehyde per hectare; enough for two applications without exceeding the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group’s advised maximum of 210g metaldehyde from 1 August to 31 December.”

Mr Lidstone said that MetaPads maintain a high level of efficacy because they are highly palatable and spread evenly. They are produced using a unique patented vacuum extrusion process. This ensures total pellet uniformity and no dust. The novel ‘pad’ shape offers an enticing thin biting edge which is easier for small slugs to consume. MetaPads are extremely weather resistant and whilst the pads expand and soften with moisture, the pellets last well in the field. Mr Lidstone adds that MetaPads are replacing other pasta based products and have a strong fit within the Certis slug pellet portfolio.

MONSANTO RECEIVES EU APPROVAL FOR CORN COMBINATIONS

Monsanto has received EU authorisation of two of its corn technology combinations, Genuity VT Double PRO (MON 89034 X NK603) and YieldGard VT Triple (MON 88017 X MON810).  The decisions cover the import, processing and food and feed use of grain and processed products. The final step in the approval process is publication of the decision by the European Commission.

"We welcome the Commission's decision to follow the independent scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority," said Jerry Hjelle, global regulatory lead. “Farmers use these and other technologies to help improve the productivity of their farms and raise grain in a more sustainable way that uses fewer pesticides. These authorisations will also enable shipment of grain and its derivatives from these products for use as feed ingredients by the European livestock industry.” Import approvals for both products have already been obtained in all key countries that import corn from the US. YieldGard VT Triple technology has been widely used in the US to help control insects that feed on corn plants above and below ground. The technology is estimated to be used on nearly 30% of the corn acres this year. Genuity VT Double PRO was introduced in the US and is currently under review for cultivation approval in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. Mr Hjelle said: “We anticipate Genuity VT Double PRO will become an important tool for pest control that will help reduce the use of pesticides whilst increasing yield.”

INNOVATIVE CROP PROTECTION PROJECTS RECEIVE UK FUNDING

The UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) () has revealed that 32 innovative crop protection projects have been awarded funding from the Board’s £13.5 million ($21.5 million) set aside for collaborative R&D. The TSB, which jointly funds the New Approaches to Crop Protection initiative with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra) and the BBSRC, said the money was to help growers adapt to the specific challenges posed by recent changes to EU pesticide regulations that threaten the withdrawal of a number of key crop protection products. It also supports the broader aims of the Technology Strategy Board's recently established Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform.

Including the contributions made by more than 100 companies undertaking the research, the total value of the R&D is in excess of £25 million. The competition also attracted additional funding from the Scottish Government and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

AMERICAN NEWS AND MARKETS

EPA GRANT AERIAL APPROVAL FOR VALENT INSECTICIDE

Valent has received EPA approval for aerial applications of the insecticide Belay (clothianidin) in soybeans. A third-generation neonicotinoid, Belay is the newest insecticide for soybeans. Carlos Granadino, product development manager for Valent, said this new application method makes Belay a better fit for growers needing dependable insect control at various points of the year; Growers now have the flexibility to apply Belay by air when key pests such as aphids build to threshold levels in their fields. Dr Ian MacRae, University of Minnesota extension entomologist and associate professor, said aphid control is one of the main concerns for soybean growers in the North Central states. Depending on the population, untreated soybean aphids can cause up to a 40% decrease in yield from central to northern Minnesota. Belay can be applied 45 days after a seed treatment containing a neonicotinoid, such as Valent’s new Inovate System (clothianidin + ipconazole + metalaxyl).

DUPONT GAINS MARKET SHARE IN NORTH AMERICA

DuPont says it has further increased its North American market share in both corn and soybean seed products this season. DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred business increased its corn market share in North America by 2% and its soybean market share by 4% - gains split equally between the Pioneer brand and other brands distributed through its PROaccessSM business strategy.  For the first half of 2010, Pioneer grew global seed sales by 14% on 8% volume gains, meeting its long-term growth objectives. “This continued growth is a strong testament for our Right Product Right Acre strategy,” said Paul Schickler, president of Pioneer Hi-Bred.   “Our focus on addressing individual grower needs is paying off.” Pioneer works with customers to match the best seed with their specific needs through a wide selection of innovative product choices and differentiated services before and after the sale.  Its success has been building and is the result of a several years’ investment, not only in research and development, but also in the sales force that services farmers locally.

MONSANTO CLOSE TO COMMERCIALISING DICAMBA TOLERANT SOYBEAN

Monsanto has moved closer to commercialising dicamba tolerant soybeans that it says will provide growers with a highly effective and economical weed control package. The company has recently completed its regulatory submission to the US Department of Agriculture and expects to complete its submission to the US Food and Drug Administration and key global markets in the next few months. The dicamba tolerance trait is expected to be stacked with the high yielding Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean trait. Dicamba is an ideal tank-mixing partner for glyphosate herbicides for both pre-plant and post-emergence weed control. It will enable farmers to implement more diverse management systems so that they can effectively manage difficult to control broadleaf weeds. Farmers have successfully used dicamba to control broadleaf weeds in crops such as corn and wheat for decades with very little weed resistance. Only two known species of weeds in the US have shown resistance to dicamba, and the geographical distribution of the known resistant populations is outside the key soybean producing areas.

Don Weeks, professor of agriculture and natural resources, Xiao-Zhuo Wang and Patricia Herman at the University of Nebraska discovered the dicamba tolerance gene. Monsanto has access to it through an exclusive licensing agreement with the university. “We continue to identify and develop additional options to help soybean farmers protect and increase their yields and better control weeds and other soybean pests,” said Roy Fuchs, global oilseeds lead for Monsanto. “This new biotech trait, combined with the Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait, would offer growers a flexible and effective weed management system for soybeans along with greater yield opportunity.” Dicamba tolerant soybeans will provide growers with the opportunity to add an effective contact herbicide for control of troublesome weeds such as marestail (horseweed) close to or at planting, adds Bryan Young, professor of weed science at Southern Illinois University. The herbicide is effective against other key weeds as well. Dicamba used post emergent in season will also improve consistency of control of difficult to control weeds including morning glory and common water hemp.

The USDA submission for dicamba tolerant soybeans is a critical first step for a key crop for growers. Monsanto also has plans to seek approval for a dicamba tolerant, Roundup Ready Flex product in cotton

that would offer farmers additional tools for effective weed management. Last year, Monsanto and BASF announced a joint licensing agreement to accelerate the development of the next generation of dicamba-based weed control chemistry products. The companies agreed to develop innovative formulations for dicamba for use with herbicide-tolerant cropping systems.

MONSANTO TO INTRODUCE APHID TOLERANT SOYBEANS

Monsanto is to introduce new Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean varieties with aphid tolerance in 2011. Since their identification in 2000, soybean aphids have become a major pest in soybean fields throughout the Northern US. They feed on the sap of the soybeans, leaving behind stunted, curled soybean plants which lead to reduced pod set and seed size. Feeding also potentially transmits harmful viral diseases. “Monsanto’s new aphid tolerant soybeans will be introduced initially in maturity groups I and II in the upper Midwest, the areas where aphid populations are typically the highest,” said Aaron Robinson, Monsanto soybean traits technical manager.

Aphid tolerance is conferred by the native Rag1 gene, which was discovered by the University of Illinois soybean plant breeders. The new aphid tolerant varieties will be available with Acceleron insecticide/fungicide seed treatment products, which provide protection against early season diseases and insects, including soybean aphids, adding an additional layer of protection for more complete aphid control. “Research trials have shown that the aphid tolerant varieties treated with Acceleron seed treatment products can delay aphid population development by two weeks in environments with high aphid populations,” added Mr Robinson. In situations where there are medium aphid populations, the economic threshold of 250 aphids per plant was never reached and therefore no foliar insecticide was required. Non-aphid tolerant soybean varieties, however, did require a foliar insecticide application.

Dr Shawn Conley, state soybean specialist at the University of Wisconsin, said aphid tolerant technology would offer multiple benefits. “If you look at the impact that these insects have, true aphid resistance could provide a real economic boon to farmers in helping to reduce their yield loss. Another advantage is that this technology could help eliminate some of the early insecticide sprays that also reduce the population of beneficial insects.” The aphid tolerance gene will only be introduced in combination with Monsanto’s Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait to help maximise soybean growers’ yields. Soybean varieties in additional maturity groups will be available in subsequent years. 

BASF AND MONSANTO COLLABORATION INCLUDES WHEAT

BASF and Monsanto are to expand their joint efforts to develop higher yielding and stress tolerant crops by including wheat. The collaboration began in 2007 with corn, soy, cotton and canola and the two companies had a joint budget of $1.5 billion. Under the expanded agreement there could be an additional investment of more than $1 billion over the life of the collaboration.

“Our yield and stress collaboration with BASF has already produced many promising leads, the first of which we will see on farm in coming years with our first generation drought tolerant corn,” said Robb Fraley, Monsanto’s chief technology officer. Peter Eckes, president of BASF Plant Science, said, “BASF Plant Science is dedicated to discover genes for maximising yield in crops that will be brought to farmers through partnerships. The collaboration with Monsanto was not only the first agreement that we entered, it also represents our most significant partnership, covering several large row crops. The expansion of our partnership reflects the fit between the two companies. The yield increases that we have achieved together in the field so far give us confidence that we can do more in our collaboration crops, which now include wheat.”

The terms of the original collaboration continue, with each company maintaining independent trait discovery programmes, nominating from those programmes specific candidate genes to advance for accelerated joint development. Projects will be jointly funded through each phase of development, and products that emerge from the joint development will be commercialised by Monsanto. The profits associated with commercialised products will be shared, with Monsanto receiving 60% of net profits and BASF receiving 40%.

With regard to wheat, the partners will initially focus on developing biotech products for the North American and Australian markets. The first enhanced yielding wheat product is expected to reach the market after 2020. This product will be followed by successive generations of higher yielding wheat varieties.

Around 2012, the companies expect to introduce the world’s first genetically modified drought tolerant corn, pending regulatory approvals. Drought tolerant corn, the first product emerging from the companies’ joint pipeline, is designed to provide farmers yield stability during periods of low rainfall by mitigating the effects of water scarcity on corn plants. Field trials for drought tolerant corn conducted in the Western Great Plains met or exceeded the target yield enhancement - an increase of some seven to 10 bushels per acre (0.44 to 0.63 tonnes/ha) over the average yield of 70 to 130 bushels per acre in some of the key drought prone areas in the US.

SYNGENTA UNVEILS WATER OPTIMISED CORN HYBRIDS

Syngenta Seeds has unveiled its Agrisure Artesian technology, the new brand name for its range of water optimised corn hybrids and the newest addition to the Agrisure family of high performance trait products. A limited quantity of hybrids with this technology, which has demonstrated the potential to deliver 15% yield preservation under drought stress, will be available in the US through the company's Garst, Golden Harvest and NK product brands. Agrisure Artesian technology enables corn plants to use available moisture more efficiently, resulting in higher yields on drought stressed land including dryland and limited-irrigation farms in the western Corn Belt. Growers on rainfed acres in the central and eastern Corn Belt can also use Agrisure Artesian technology to help stabilise yields in years of inconsistent rainfall or in fields with variable soil types and moisture holding capacity. In years of ideal rainfall, hybrids with the new technology have demonstrated no yield penalty compared with hybrids without the technology.

Syngenta created Agrisure Artesian technology through years of advanced molecular breeding and began identifying and mining the many genes from the corn genome responsible for managing water use in corn. Syngenta's first generation water optimised hybrids combine multiple genes from this pool. Initial hybrids featuring Agrisure Artesian technology will be released primarily in the western Corn Belt where the probability of drought stress in any given year is virtually 100% and yield of dryland corn can be less than 50% of irrigated yield levels.

Agrisure Artesian technology will be sold with Agrisure 3000GT and Agrisure GT trait technologies. Syngenta is also developing a complementary water optimised hybrid product utilising a genetically modified trait. These hybrids are anticipated to be available post-2015, pending receipt of all regulatory and key import market approvals.

BASF GROWER SURVEY REVEALS KEY CHALLENGES

Stress tolerance of crops, unpredictable weather and residual control of weeds are three of the biggest challenges to US growers according to a survey conducted recently by BASF. More than 600 growers from 44 states participated in the survey, which examined the challenges growers face in managing yield, choosing the most effective inputs and dealing with plant stress factors. It also examined the importance of new crop protection innovations to growers. “This type of research is an important step in ensuring that the BASF product portfolio delivers agronomic benefits, sustainability and grower convenience,” said Dr Gary Fellows, a technical services regional manager for BASF.

The survey uncovered many key findings including the top concerns of growers when it comes to disease, stress, weeds and new crop protection chemistries. Some 54% of growers indicated that disease pressure is a major concern and 75% indicated that stress tolerance of crops is a difficult issue to manage.

When asked about weed management issues, 5% of growers reported residual control of weeds as their most difficult weed challenge and 50% reported difficulty when dealing with resistance to glyphosate. Around 38% of growers also list the flexibility to plant when needed after a herbicide application as another difficult weed management issue. Growers are asking for herbicides that help control weeds early and to knock out increasingly resistant weeds.

About 93% of growers indicated that new crop protection chemistries will be important to their business in the next five years as they continue to manage issues related to crop stress, weather and weeds.

BAYER PROMOTES INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT

Bayer CropScience is facilitating a new initiative, called Respect the Rotation which is intended to encourage farmers to adopt the key elements of Integrated Weed Management (IWM). The company hosted two days of field tours and roundtable discussions in Memphis, US. “The goal is to preserve the use of glyphosate herbicide and promote proper stewardship of viable technologies, such as the LibertyLink trait and Ignite herbicide,” said Andy Hurst, product manager for Bayer. Respect the Rotation highlights the importance of rotating crops, use of advanced tillage methods, rotating herbicide modes of action and other management choices that positively impact on weed resistance management. The meeting provided the opportunity for over 200 weed management and agronomy experts to discuss how the industry can work together to support and act upon the principles that have been championed by the weed science community for years. Bayer says that by incorporating the principles of IWM, growers can protect existing weed control options for years to come.

David Shaw, chair of the Herbicide Resistance Education Committee for Weed Science Society of America, said: "Glyphosate resistance is a reality; the challenge now is to take steps to adopt specific practices that will slow the spread of resistance and possibly extend the lifespan of this herbicide.” The main barrier, according to Mr Shaw, is the mistaken perception that adopting resistance management practices will cost growers more. Studies show that the opposite is true. In a four year research project in six key agricultural states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska and North Carolina), researchers are comparing the economics of university recommended, herbicide resistance management programmes with the use of glyphosate as an exclusive treatment for weed control. As of the end of the third year of the study, researchers say the net returns on fields managed according to recommended practices are equal to or greater than the returns on those where glyphosate is used alone. Increased yields appear to offset any increase in herbicide costs.

AMVAC ACQUIRES BAYER’S COTTON DEFOLIANT

American Vanguard Corporation (Amvac) has acquired the cotton defoliant product Def (tribufos) from Bayer CropScience. The acquisition complements Amvac’s existing cotton defoliant product Folex (tributyl phosphorotrithioate), which the company has marketed since 2002. Def and Folex are both fast and effective cotton defoliants that facilitate the removal of leaves surrounding the cotton boll and in combination with other products function as a harvest aid. They enable cotton growers to utilise highly productive mechanical harvesting methods and to optimise their yield regardless of variable weather conditions. Jim Lehman, national sales manager for Amvac commented: “This acquisition strengthens Amvac’s broad product offering for cotton growers, which includes our leading cotton insecticides Bidrin (dicrotophos), Discipline (bifenthrin) and Orthene (acephate) and allows us to capitalise on the 2010 expansion of cotton in the US.”

CANADIAN COMPANY SET UP IN THE US

Engage Agro (), a company specialising in sales and marketing for niche market crop protection products in Canada, is to expand into the US. Engage Agro, Delaware, USA will provide development, regulatory, marketing and sales functions in support of unique, high-value crop protection and nutrient products. “We hope and expect to be able to replicate our successful Canadian business strategy in the US and to create efficiencies for our supplier partners to the benefit of growers in both countries,” said Engage Agro owner Ray Chyc.

The company, formed in early 1995, has hired Trevor Thorley, who was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer of Amvac. Mr Thorley has also worked with Sumitomo, Valent and Bayer. He said: “Our vision is to introduce innovation and differentiation of products which meet unique customer needs. We will not simply be another chemical company.”

AGRIUM ACQUIRES FARM CENTRES FROM DUPONT

Agrium Inc, a major retail supplier of agricultural products and services in both North and South America, has acquired 24 retail farm centres in Argentina from DuPont Crop Protection, as well as its crop protection formulation facility in Casilda, Argentina. Annual expected revenue from the retail farm centres is about $57 million. The Casilda formulation facility provides a versatile range of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides for the Argentina market, as well as toll manufacturing for third party companies.

The acquisition brings the total number of Agrium’s retail farm centres in South America under the Agroservicios Pampeanos (ASP) name to 56 outlets. “This acquisition is a great strategic growth opportunity for Agrium,” said Mike Wilson, Agrium president and CEO. “Not only will it solidify our current retail presence in Argentina, it will also strengthen existing strategic partnerships and allow us to better meet the needs of the local growers. This acquisition brings further diversity to our South American portfolio and is expected to allow for the expansion of our Loveland crop protection products into other South American countries. This is one more step toward reaching our growth targets for retail, and we will continue to look for opportunities to acquire attractive acquisitions in key markets.”

NUFARM REACHES AGREEMENT WITH REGULATORS ON AH MARKS

Nufarm Ltd says that US and Canadian regulators have confirmed a final agreement on measures taken to ensure competition following the agricultural chemical firm's takeover of AH Marks Holdings Ltd. Nufarm acquired AH Marks, a phenoxy herbicides manufacturing and supply business based in the UK, in March 2008. The measures involve the sale and/or transfer of some product registrations and regulatory task force seats by Nufarm to other companies and the restructuring of some supply agreements. Nufarm said in a statement that the measures had already been put in place, and the agreements would not materially affect the anticipated value that Nufarm expects from the acquisition of AH Marks.

INTERNATIONAL SUGAR BEET AND CANE CONFERENCE

Some 180 delegates from around the world were in attendance at the 10th World Association of Beet and Cane Growers Conference (), held in Cambridge on 19-21 July. Topics ranged from future projections on sugar and bioethanol consumption and production to technical developments in growing the crops. Bruce Knight reports.

The future of sugar

Caroline Spelman, UK Minister of the Environment, Food and Agriculture, gave one of the welcoming addresses at the conference. Before entering politics she worked on sugar policy for the NFU so was able to speak to the audience with more authority than is often the case with Government Ministers. In her presentation she recognised that there had been major turmoil in world sugar prices and that in the EU the reform of the sugar regime had created difficulties and casualties. Having weathered the storm, the industry can look to a more positive future.

The challenge for EU farmers is a tough one - to grow more from less water, agrochemicals, nitrogen, energy and even less land. There are many technical advances which will need to be called on to meet the challenge. She cited precision agriculture, notably autosteer, as an example. As a possible clue to future policy she mentioned the importance of stewardship schemes but commented that the market is less interested than it should be in rewarding these sustainable production methods.

Dr Peter Baron, executive director of the International Sugar Organisation, elaborated on the causes of so much recent volatility in world sugar prices. He said that the credit crunch which had impacted on investment plans, exchange rate movements and climate change policies had all played their part. Now that the EU has removed six million tonnes from annual production there is more stability. However, he was not optimistic that the impasse in world trade negotiations in the Doha round would be settled before the US mid-term elections. Currently US growers are benefiting from a better than expected farm bill.

Sugar crop production has to be looked upon as supplying three markets, sugar, ethanol and in Brazil, electricity. Some 20% of cane is produced for the ethanol market, but so far only 3% of sugar beet. With demand for ethanol fuel for transport projected to double by 2015 both crops will be significantly affected.

Lars Hoelgaard, deputy director, Directorate General Agriculture, European Commission, explained that it was EU policy to strive to reach agreement in international trade policy in the next Doha Round talks. However he personally had doubts whether opening up access to the US market could be sold by President Obama to Congress, in the short term. Within the EU, CAP reform is due to be completed in 2013. Sugar is the last of the commodities still managed through quotas and in principle 2014/15 will be the last year for quotas. However, he was not prepared to rule out the possibility that some form of quota will extend beyond that date.

British Sugar expands

Presentations from commercial organisations included one from Colm McKay, agriculture director with British Sugar. The diversity of the company in terms of products and geographical involvement was explained. British Sugar, a subsidiary of the food company ABF, is the sole processor of sugar beet in the UK and the leading sugar supplier in the UK and Ireland. There are now just four sugar beet processing factories, all in Eastern England, compared with twelve in 1990. The first bioethanol production in the UK started at the Wissington factory in Norfolk. Sugar beet surplus to quota quantities is the feedstock. A number of by products are marketed from this factory.

Of particular interest, at the same site, is the establishment of the largest glasshouse facility in the UK, for tomato production. An 11 hectare glasshouse produces 80 million tomatoes per year, using CO2 recycled from the sugar factory. Water captured from the beet plant is also used as well as compost made from green matter waste. Plans are in place to extend the area under glass to 18.5 hectares.

Colm McKay told Crop Protection Monthly that they were watching with interest the recent changes in the registration process for genetically modified crops. British Sugar is not intrinsically against the production of GM sugar beet, but their policy would be determined entirely by what the market calls for.

British Sugar has interests in sugar production in Africa and China and in 2009, AzucareraEbro, the leading sugar producer in Spain and Portugal, became part of the group. The company now produces around 50% of the 1.6 million tonnes of sugar produced in Iberia. British Sugar also owns the international seed pelleting company, Germains.

Tropical sugar beet

Jean-Noel Evrard of SESVanderHave outlined his company’s activities. Owned by the Florimond Desprez group based in France, the company is the largest sugar beet seed producer in the EU delivering to over 50 countries. The company is targeting to expand into new territories with India an important prospect due to the rapidly expanding demand for biofuels. The company has been developing sugar beet varieties for India for the past five years. Although India is primarily a cane producing region there are potential benefits in introducing sugar beet. Sugar beet has the advantage that it is less demanding on water, yields more and most important of all the growing cycle is five months compared with a year for cane. The crop can, therefore, be grown in rotation with other crops such as sweet sorghum and chick peas. Tolerance to saline soils is also considered to be an important benefit. Work carried out by SESVanderHave and Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) in Maharashtra State have identified varieties with yield potential of 80-100 tonnes per hectare, compared with typical yields in Belgium of 77 tonnes per hectare.

However, there are a number of problems to overcome before the crop can be considered commercially viable in India. Pest and disease protection is a key issue. Sclerotium root rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) is the most serious disease. Work with VSI using biological control from an adapted strain of Trichoderma viridis, together with appropriate crop husbandry, looks the most promising. The leaf eating caterpillars Spodoptera spp are also a threat. Work is progressing with seed applied insecticides.

One of the barriers to growing sugar beet in India is the lack of processing facilities. According to Mr Evrard there is scope to convert existing cane sugar factories into dual purpose plants.

SESVanderhave are not the only organisation working on tropical beet. Caroline Spelman made reference to Syngenta having introduced varieties into India as a good example of technology transfer to emerging economies.

Update on Syngenta’s Plene technology

Syngenta’s cane bud technology, Plene, (May CPM) is based on four centimetre long cane buds pre-treated with insecticides, fungicides and coating agents and planted with an adapted seeder. This will replace hand planting of long cane rods. Leandro Martinho, Syngenta’s global insecticide product manager, has led the R & D efforts on Plene in Brazil. He explained that the system will depend on the rapid delivery of the specially prepared and treated buds to the farm. The maximum time from production to planting, for successful crop establishment, is seven days. Syngenta is therefore heavily committed to investment in new propagation and processing facilities together with establishing an infrastructure for delivery to the farm. The plan is to introduce the product in 2012 in Brazil with Argentina and Colombia as markets to follow. The aim will be to gain 30% market penetration in Brazil by 2017.

Among questions asked was one about intellectual property and whether the company will face competition from other companies’ copying the process once the concept is established. Leandro Martinho stressed that Syngenta holds important patents on the process. He also explained that one market where the potential may be limited is Australia as the country already has an efficient planting system in place.

CROP PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND UTILITY

Crop Productivity, Sustainability and Utility was a multidisciplinary conference held at the University of Reading, UK on 30 June 2010. It was organised by SCI’s BioResources Group to showcase the work of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. The wide range of topics gave an insight into some of the research into crop sciences being pursued in UK universities and research institutes. Dr Alan Baylis reports.

Crop yield

How seed size is regulated is the subject of research at the BBSRC’s Rothamsted Research (formerly Rothamsted Experimental Station) for oilseed rape and at Warwick HRI (the horticultural research facility at Warwick University) for Brassica crops. Larger seeds may result from increased endosperm cell proliferation or from enhanced growth of the seed coat soon after fertilisation. The genetic basis for these traits is being investigated and the role of receptor kinases in the coordination of cell-to-cell communication is being studied.

Disease resistance based on hypersensitivity can have a negative effect on barley yield. Barley varieties showing this response to infection have stomata which fail to close at night. This reduces water-use efficiency, exacerbating drought stress. The role of abscisic acid in signaling pathways in pathogen defence mechanisms and stomatal closure is being studied at Aberystwyth University.

A joint project between the University of Reading’s Departments of Agriculture and Meteorology is developing systems using satellite-based weather forecasting and crop growth models to forecast crop yields. This technology will be used to alert authorities in Sub-Sarahan Africa of any possible shortfalls in food supply.

Crop protection and environment

The annual value of pollinators worldwide has been estimated at £125 billion. The Centre for Agri-Environmental Research at the University of Reading has recently been awarded £1.1 million to participate in three projects funded under the BBSRC’s Insect Pollinator Initiative (bbsrc.ac.uk/pollinators). In the UK, agri-environmental stewardship schemes promote the establishment of grass buffer strips on field margins. Field trials have been looking at sowing wildflower seed mixes into these strips. Spraying the graminicide fluazifop-p-butyl to reduce the competitiveness of grasses is improving wildflower populations. As a result, greater abundance and diversity of bees has been observed. The Centre is also working in Kenya to study the effects of farm management practices in the context of the wider landscape on bee communities.

At the University of Birmingham, new approaches to the control of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) are being investigated. Feeding behaviour of the pest on a range of rice varieties has been recorded. Analysis of expression activities of rice genes from varieties with different levels of resistance is indicating some genes of particular significance.

Researchers at Imperial College’s Silwood Park are studying factors important in aphid infestations of cereals. Moderate drought stress on Brassica spp resulted in higher levels of aphid infestation and greater fecundity than on either well-watered or severely stressed plants. On wheat, the fecundity and longevity of Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphium padi aphids were increased when higher levels of nitrogen fertiliser were applied, as might be expected, but significant differences in aphid growth and fecundity were found between infestations on different wheat cultivars.

Parasitic weeds are serious constraints to crop productivity in many warm climates. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Striga spp is a particular problem. A system of biological control has been developed for Striga using the forage legume Desmodium spp. One allelochemical exuded from the roots of Desmodium stimulates the germination of Striga seed and another prevents the attachment of the Striga haustoria to host crops such as maize. Research at Reading is investigating whether Desomdium can also be used to control two parasitic weeds common in Mediterranean countries, Phelipanche ramosa and Orobranche crenata.

Interest in more energy-efficient crop production systems in greenhouses and polytunnels is resulting in changes to light and climate which may affect pest and disease control. Research at Warwick HRI is investigating the effects such changes may have on the biological control of powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici) on tomatoes by Bacillus subtilis QST 173 and on red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and its biocontrol agent the predatory mite Phytoseilus persimilis.

The Department of Soil Science at Reading University has been developing new analytical methods to shed light on the species of microorganisms involved in the metabolism of organic molecules in soil under crops. Pseudomonads are especially important for plant health, but represented only about 3% of the microbial population in soil cropped with ryegrass. A better understanding of the ‘microbial black box’ would help with crop and soil management to increase organic matter, decrease carbon emissions and reduce the persistence of pesticides.

Several researchers from the University of Reading’s Department of Agriculture presented aspects of the €3.5 million EU funded HealthyHay project. Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a traditional forage crop which could make a comeback in sustainable cropping systems. It is a valuable source of tannins which are structurally diverse polyphenols. In plants, tannins have functions including pest and disease resistance. There are also indications of roles in drought resistance through the stabilisation of cell membranes. Tannins have been found to have numerous benefits in the health and nutrition of humans and animals, acting as antioxidants with anticancer, antimicrobial or anthelmintic properties. In animal feed they can improve the utilisation of protein by ruminants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sainfoin is also an excellent source of nectar and pollen for bees. The group is going on to study tannins in biomass willow and will be working with Rothamsted Research.

Energy crops

Several papers and posters addressed biomass and biofuels topics. At Rothamsted work has begun under the BBSRC’s Perennial Bioenergy Crops Programme (bsbec-.uk). Studies on the physiology and morphology of short rotation coppice willow and Miscanthus will look for key traits associated with biomass yield. One such trait being studied at the IBERS, the research and education centre at Aberystwyth University, is canopy senescence. The timing of senescence affects yield, the remobilisation of nutrients, and harvest date. Predictable variation in the time of harvest would be useful in regulating the availability of biomass feedstock.

Lignin content of biomass is an issue for energy conversion efficiency when used as a feedstock for second generation bioethanol. Another project starting at Aberystwyth will be to identify genes involved in the lignification of cell walls in Miscanthus. Meanwhile at Royal Holloway, University of London, the biosynthesis and organisation of cell wall components are being researched in tobacco as a model. The effect on levels of soluble sugars is being measured in response to suppressing several genes involved in lignin and five-carbon sugar biosynthesis. White rot fungi that metabolise lignin are going to be investigated as a novel pre-treatment of bioethanol feedstock.

At the University of Portsmouth an alternative, marine approach to the problem of finding efficient bioconversion technologies for bioethanol production is being pursued. The wood-boring isopod Limnoria quadripunctata’s suite of lignocellulose digestive enzymes are being investigated. Life cycle analysis (LCA) work on biofuel production was reported too. At the University of Manchester LCA studies are indicating that even when greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by using biomass feedstocks, attention needs to be paid to other environmental consequences of their production, for example the acidification and eutrophication of water.

Climate change

A number of presentations addressed issues of climate change. Some varieties of rice are affected by sterility when panicle temperatures are too high at flowering. Varieties which flower early in the morning seem to be more tolerant of high daytime temperatures, so work is in progress at Reading to locate genes associated with this trait.

X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), usually associated with hospitals and body scans, is being used at the University of Nottingham to visualise and quantify roots in undisturbed soil. The technique is being used to study the effects of soil compaction and the architecture of roots of different crop varieties which could help identify traits associated with drought resistance. Crop water use efficiency was a topic of interest to others researching the genetics of root hair development in barley and the expression patterns of genes in drought stressed clover at Bristol and Aberystwyth, respectively.

OTHER NEWS AND MARKETS

SYNGENTA REPORTS ON HALF YEAR SALES

Syngenta sales in the first six months of 2010 increased 1% to $6.74 billion, but were 3% lower at constant exchange rates. Crop Protection sales were 4% lower, with 3% volume growth partly offsetting lower prices. Seeds sales were 2% higher, driven by volume growth of 3%. Volume growth in the second quarter offset lower crop protection prices. Net profit for the group fell 11% to $1.25 billion in the first six months. EBITDA was 9% lower (CER) at $1.9 billion. Gross margin was maintained despite lower prices due to the favourable evolution of raw material costs and to portfolio enhancement in the seeds business.

The company says that emerging markets such as Latin America and Asia-Pacific have now become increasingly important for the group. “This is the year where Syngenta could have more of its sales in emerging markets than in developed markets,” added CEO, Mike Mack.

In Europe, Africa and the Middle East grower purchases were affected by the lower wheat price, particularly in France, where the business was also affected by high channel inventory, government credit reforms and the phasing of oilseed rape herbicide sales. In Eastern Europe, customers began to resume investment in high value inputs and the company was able to ease credit constraints in an improved economic environment. In NAFTA, the season progressed well leading to a rapid recovery in consumption in the second quarter, although price competition remained intense in certain segments, notably glyphosate and fungicides. Sales in Latin America surpassed the record level of 2008, with higher soybean acreage in both Brazil and Argentina and increased disease pressure. The company reinforced its market-leading position notably for fungicides. Growth in Asia Pacific was strong in the emerging markets, particularly China and Vietnam, more than offsetting a decline in the largest market, Japan.

Selective herbicide sales were lower with declines concentrated in older products. Sales of corn and soybean herbicides showed good growth notably in the US, where their importance in dealing with glyphosate resistant weeds is increasingly being recognised. A significant reduction in non-selective herbicides mainly reflected developments in the glyphosate market, with US prices coming down sharply from mid-2009. Fungicide sales increased by 6%, with the lead product Amistar up 17% despite lower US pricing in the second quarter. Two other major fungicides, Ridomil Gold and Score, also showed double digit growth with stable pricing. Insecticide sales were unchanged with strong growth in newer products offsetting declines in older chemistries. Seed care sales were lower due largely to high inventories of treated seed in the US.

SYNGENTA GRANTS LICENCE TO BAYER FOR COTTON TECHNOLOGY

Syngenta and Bayer CropScience have entered into a long-term business which grants Bayer a worldwide, non-exclusive license for use of Vipcot insect control technology in cotton. The technology expresses two insecticidal proteins that are highly effective against a number of important cotton pests, including cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea) and tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens). The addition of Vipcot will complement Bayer’s existing portfolio of cotton solutions, which includes high-performance cottonseed brands FiberMax, Stoneville and Surpass, and technologies including LibertyLink and GlyTol herbicide tolerance and TwinLink insect resistance. Davor Pisk, chief operating officer of Syngenta Seeds, said: “Vipcot contains the same gene as Agrisure Viptera, to be launched by Syngenta in the US corn market later this year. The agreement with Bayer CropScience means that cotton growers will also see an expansion of the technology options available to them.”

JAPANESE APPROVAL FOR BAYER’S NEW RICE FUNGICIDE

Bayer CropScience has been granted regulatory approval for its fungicide isotianil in Japan. Marketed by Bayer CropScience under the brand name Routine, this new rice fungicide was successfully launched in Korea earlier this year. The market launch in Japan is scheduled for 2011. Further major rice growing countries in Asia will follow as Bayer seeks to strengthen the company's portfolio in the region. Isotianil was jointly developed with Sumitomo Chemical specifically for use in rice growing in Japan to combat the

plant disease rice blast. It originates from the chemical class of isothiazoles and stimulates the natural defence mechanisms of plants, thus boosting their resistance.

Rice blast is caused by the fungal pathogen Pyricularia oryzae and is the world’s most economically important rice disease. It occurs throughout the entire growing period of the rice plant and is prevalent in almost all growing regions. Rice blast occurs particularly frequently in climate zones where there are low temperatures, little sun and high humidity. It damages the seedlings and infects all parts of the rice plant, considerably compromising yields and the crop’s quality. In view of the growing importance of rice as a staple food, rice blast represents a threat to the global food supply.

AUSTRALIAN GROWERS ADVISED HOW TO MANAGE RESISTANT WEEDS

Growers in Australia are being warned to manage weeds with a range of diverse weed management tactics following confirmation of 10 new populations of glyphosate resistant annual ryegrass in Western Australia. Confirmation of the majority of the resistant ryegrass populations have been made under a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) monitoring project conducted by the Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (WAHRI).

WAHRI senior research officer Mechelle Owen, who studied the samples, said that 24 glyphosate resistant ryegrass populations had now been confirmed in Western Australia since the first case was documented in the northern grainbelt in 2001. Almost all of Western Australia’s documented glyphosate resistant populations are from cropping paddocks, with a couple from vineyards, and most are in the southern grainbelt. Ms Owen said that the new cases all came from cropping areas with a history of summer rainfall and a high number of three to four glyphosate applications per year. The resistant populations were noticed after they survived glyphosate applications to control summer weeds prior to seeding.

Previous GRDC funded research conducted by WAHRI demonstrated that glyphosate sustainability can be achieved by rotating glyphosate and paraquat, in addition to using a suite of integrated weed management (IWM) techniques. For example, growers should manage weed seed banks and make sure weeds do not set seed.

Ms Owen said ryegrass was the only weed documented with glyphosate resistance in Western Australia so far, but other glyphosate resistant species in Australia include barnyard grass, windmill grass and liver seed grass. Growers can obtain information on integrated weed management and herbicide resistance through GRDC’s Weedlinks website at .au/weedlinks.

NUFARM AND SUMITOMO TARGET GLYPHOSATE RESISTANT WEEDS

Nufarm and Sumitomo Chemical, a 20% shareholder of Nufarm, have started discussions on the development and marketing of new herbicide combinations to combat the emerging problem of resistant weeds in genetically modified crops. The key target will be glyphosate resistant weeds in the Americas. The companies will focus on using Sumitomo’s flumioxazin and Nufarm’s phenoxy herbicides with glyphosate. They also intend to strengthen a product line for resistance management through the development of blend formulations with multiple modes of action. In addition the two companies will look to develop a new herbicide that differs in mode of action from existing active ingredients such as flumioxazin. They will do this by accelerating the assessment of candidate compounds in Sumitomo’s pipeline that have been identified as effective against a variety of weeds that are difficult to control, including glyphosate resistant weeds.

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